Laura Hersey CV

PERSONAL SUMMARY Multidisciplinary creative with over 20 years experience who can offer a versatile range of skills with maturity and confidence. Organised, with great attention to detail I’m capable of directing and managing projects, prorities and teams from concept to completion. Strong communication skills and good time keeping ensure deadlines are hit and business drivers met.

I started out, at Landor Associates London, in the field of graphic design and have a deep understanding of branding, advertising and marketing. I have a strong grasp of brand strategy, printing techqniques and design methodologies.

Now in the digital era, my experience goes beyond design for print, well into the realms of website, UX and digital design. I understand the process of creating sites, email campaigns, social media marketing and the tools to deliver these.

I am at my strongest when working on briefs that require my incieative, to get stuck into whatevers thrown at me and run with it, managing the full project, roadmap and deliverables.

A friendly, positive can-do personality with a sense of humour I’m quick to hit the ground running and build a rapport with both colleagues and clients.

I have embraced working in an agile environment and understand its values and principles. I enjoy working in collaboration and learning from others. I am open to learning new tools, disciplines and skills for the task at hand. I work with the latest creative software, cloud-based technologies and social media platforms.

CLIENTS Work with businesses of all shapes and sizes. From start-ups to established global organisations, marketing and PR businesses, design agencies and in-house marketing teams. Including:

CONTACT 07986 86 46 31 laura@lollydesign.com

PORTFOLIO laurahersey.myportfolio.com laurahersey

QUALITIFICATIONS BA Hons, 2.1 Visual Communications in Graphic Design Kent Institute of Art & Design BTEC Diploma, Distinction Foundation Studies in Art & Design South East Essex College of Art & Technology BTEC National Diploma, Merit Design for Print Barking & Dagenham College

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE • Adobe Creative Suite; XD, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, Premiere Rush, Lightroom • Management tools; Jira, Slack, Asana, Trello, Xero • Social Media tools; Canva, Facebook Business • HTML • Google Suite applications; Analytics, Web Designer, Slides, Docs, Sheets • Keynote, PowerPoint, Word, Excel • Printing; Litho, digital, dynamic • Methodologies; Kanban, Agile, Waterfall, Sprints

CAREER Lolly Design

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES Sept 2019 - Currently

Freelance Creative Consultant

As a freelancer I provide design resource, brand advice and marketing support for businesses in Kent. Working with clients to develop brand strategies, build their brand and deliver promotional material across print and digital channels.

Clients include: Hepatitis C Trust, Kent County Council, Kent Downs, Whitstable Museum, Oak Creative.

Holiday Extras Short Breaks Lead Digital Designer (Maternity Cover)

Sept 2013 - Aug 2019

• Naturally creative, a love of all things graphic design • Detail focused • Super organised • Proactive, self driven individual, going above and beyond • Team player, collabotative, approachable • Supportive, adaptable

[Apr 2018 - Aug 2019]

I was working as a digital designer for one of the largest travel and tourism companies in the UK, designing and implementing marketing campaigns for UK Theme parks and attractions to drive high volume of online guest bookings.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

I was a lead designer in the marketing team working together with the content, email, social and SEO teams, creating and delivering offers, digital campaigns and printed collateral to promote short breaks. But also collaborating with UI and web engineers to continually enhance customers journey to and on the websites.

• Branding

I designed all print and digital material, leading projects from brainstorming to delivery. I was responsible for championing and guarding brand guidelines across all platforms and mediums, ensuring consistent and impactful campaign execution. I was also responsible for user testing, running device and browser tests to ensure imagery appear correctly with the need to deliver fast and deploy quality.

• Website design and development

During this time I advised on and introduced methods to improve asset management, workflow and team processes to improve efficiency.

• User experience

Projects delivered: • Email campaigns, • Display and re marketing advertising • Social media campaigns • Websites • Direct mailing and dynamic print • Data driven design in collaboration with UXUI specialists and Data Analysts

• Artworking

Clients include: Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Chessington, Legoland, Warwick Castle, Paultons, Peppa Pig World.

“Laura has delivered an amazing piece of artwork for the Chessington Direct Mail campaign in a very short space of time. This piece of work should usually take 2 weeks or more to produce and she delivered it in 1! She put in many a late (very late) night and always took on feedback from us in great spirit and got the job done! I really appreciate the masses of hard work that she has put into helping me deliver this.

Thank you!”

Contractual Digital Designer

[Sept 2013 - Apr 2018]

Starting out freelancing for Holiday Extras Short Breaks as Digital Designer reporting into Head of Marketing. As the business grew and their workload increased I began contracting for Holiday Extras, on a monthly retainer, supporting with marketing requirements, fast turnaround of priorities and covering sickness/holiday leave. I created design and artwork for all marketing campaigns and promotional offers delivered across multiple platforms including email, re marketing and websites.

Projects delivered: • Email campaigns, • Display advertising • Social media campaigns • Websites • Direct mail, dynamic print Clients include: Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Chessington, Legoland, Warwick Castle, Paultons, Peppa Pig World.

• Design for print • Advertsing • Brand strategy • Social media advertising • Email campaigns • Re marketing banners • Brand guidelines • Printing • Merchandising • Exhibition displays

Carole Thomas, Senior Campaigns & Marketing Manager, Chessington Holidays

Lolly Design

May 2007 - Apr 2018

Freelance Designer

As a freelance designer I delivered design resource and creative solutions for design agencies, businesses, marketing and PR Teams. Adopting a professional, agile and friendly approach, providing creativity and inspired designs delivered on schedule, within budget and to the highest standard.

Services include: • Digital design: marketing and email campaigns, display advertising, social media material, websites • Print design: brochures, literature, catalogues, folders, leaflets, newsletters, stationery • Branding: identity design, build brand recognition, establish brand guidelines/ manual • Dynamic print design • Direct mail: design, print and distribution • Advertising campaigns: tabloids, publications, display advertising • Large format: exhibition systems, banner stands, signage, vehicle signage • Project management and account handling • Brand and marketing strategies Clients include: Ashford Borough Council, Tonbridge Borough Councils, Kent Science Park, Focus Advertising, Mid Kent College, Kent Science Resource Centre, Eurospan Publishers, BTF partnership.

Zero2Creative

2005 - 2007

Senior Graphic Designer, Studio Manager

A creative and marketing agency. Delivering creative and inspired design solutions for clients. Responsible for managing design department, client projects and tasked with achieving outstanding vehicles of communication across all media channels.

Clients include: Ashford Borough Council, Kent Science Park, Pantheon Retail Ltd, Locate in Kent, CNBC. Fuse Design and Marketing Communications

2002 - 2005

Graphic Designer

Design, Marketing and Communications agency. Generating graphic design solutions for clients and organisations of all sizes, in all sectors. My role included design, artworking, print management, project management, studio scheduling and assisting new business canvassing. Managing clients expectations.

Developing and implementation of studio best practice procedures and processes.

Clients include: P&O, Vauxhall, Radox, South East Essex College, University of Essex, Business Link for Essex, Holmes Pearman Estate Agents.

South East Essex College

2001 - 2002

Associate Design Lecturer

Supporting HND students to develop art, design and computer skills.

Landor Associates, Brand Agency London Junior Graphic Designer

1999 - 2001

From graduating I started my design career at Landor Associates the renowned global branding agency. Based in London with frequent trips to the German studio. I was assigned to the Corporate Identity team assisting senior designers to deliver designs for high profile blue chip companies. I was involved in brand design, retail environment design, packaging, client pitches and presentations.

Clients: Bmi, Walkers, Tetra

“Laura has worked with Holiday Extras for some time and I can certainly vouch for her quality, diversity and organisation. She is process driven, I can leave anything with Laura to run with and I know confidently she will deliver.”

James Osborne, Digital Acquisitions Manager, Holiday Extras

“It’s a pleasure to have worked with Laura for a few years now and she’s a regular smiling face in the office, helping us to deliver a range of web and print designs for our clients. Not only is her work always of a high standard but she’s also reliable, friendly and willing to help out wherever she’s needed. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Laura to any business in need of some design work” Charlie Lewis, Head of Marketing, Short Breaks